ABOUT THIS SERIES
In November, the General Assembly approved and Gov. Lincoln D. Chafee signed legislation that will make dramatic changes to the state's pension system. The legislation did not address independently administered municipal pension plans or other post-employment benefits, topics that are expected to be taken up during the next legislative session.
In a three-part series, The Daily News examined the retirement liabilities for each Aquidneck Island community and local union leaders' reaction to changes to the state system:
MIDDLETOWN, where teachers, municipal employees, police and firefighters all are in the state system.
PORTSMOUTH, where only teachers are in the state system.
NEWPORT, where teachers and municipal employees are in the state system and the two privately maintained plans for fire and police are considered 'at risk' by the state.
Other pension-reform related stories by Daily News staff also will be included in this archive.